White-Fronted Terns (Sterna Striata)
A Skywatch Friday photo. More Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!
The Gannet colony at Muriwai is also nesting and breeding site of white-fronted terns (sterna striata). Some of the time they are congregating on ledges on Motutara Island, some of the time underneath and beside the southern point opposite. And in between they play chasies, either in large swarms as seen a couple of weeks ago, or breaking into smaller groups of 2-4 or more, occasionally coming close enough to the viewing platform to tempt me to shoot. Always noisy, always fun to watch, as they fly on unpredictable paths, following their whims.
Offers of fish play an important part in the interaction between terns, but the exact nature of the play is a bit of a mystery to me. I have observed birds that carried the fish in their beak over a long period of time before it was offered, and sometimes the fish was passed back after some time – who knows what they are thinking…
September 17, 2010 at 6:49 am
great photo of the birds in flight, they are not easy to catch, happy sky watch friday
September 17, 2010 at 7:14 am
Just awesome!!!!
September 17, 2010 at 7:44 am
I, also, live by the water and enjoy watching the terns fishing. nice capture!
September 17, 2010 at 8:04 am
Stunning those White-Fronted Terns !!
Great picture…
Happy SWF and greetings from Holland,
Anna
September 17, 2010 at 11:30 am
What an incredible capture, Paul! Interesting information about their interaction! All that and lovely skies as well! Have a wonderful weekend!
Sylvia
September 17, 2010 at 1:39 pm
How amazing to catch such a sight!
September 17, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Great BIF, with added bonus of food at beak.
September 17, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Fabulous capture.
September 17, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Fantastic capture!
September 17, 2010 at 10:22 pm
What elegant birds in flight.
September 17, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Stunning Captured, Love the shape of the gannets
September 18, 2010 at 12:53 am
A glorious sight! Delightful wings in a beautiful sky!
September 18, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Great capture. Love it.
September 18, 2010 at 10:18 pm
You really gat a great shot here. I have never seen that tern before. I don´t think it comes to sweden. You photographed the birds, in my SWF entry I have photographed the birders. 🙂
http://nfbild.blogspot.com/2010/09/skadare-skadar-himlen-birders-watching.html
September 21, 2010 at 7:49 am
nice shot; terns are magnificent creatures; they migrate to our waters every year; see some of my tern snaps here: http://toothecrossroads.blogspot.com/search?q=terns
September 28, 2010 at 9:24 am
Wouah les sternes !
Terns Wow!